PARIS: Aztecs look for all the right moves against Volunteers

SAN DIEGO -- Brian Carlwell's duds looked familiar. Wasn't he
wearing the same get-up Sunday afternoon when last seen Saturday
night in Las Vegas?

"I probably won't take it off for a couple of days,'' Carlwell
said.

The wrinkles being overlooked, the San Diego State center wore
his Mountain West Conference championship T-shirt well. So well, it
nearly detracted from his nifty moves -- off the court.

Carlwell was in a boogie-mood Sunday and why not when waltzing
into the Aztecs' meeting room? With SDSU headed to the big dance,
we'll let Carlwell take it from here.

"That's just what I do,'' he said, after learning the Aztecs
face Tennessee Thursday in Providence, R.I. "I don't know why, but
I can't stop dancing; my teammates are always on me. But if I hear
any kind of music -- classical or blues -- I'm going to dance to
it. That is just what I do.''

Yep, the Aztecs are in the NCAA tournament and that gives
everyone on Montezuma Mesa happy feet.

This time last year, SDSU showed two left feet when being left
out.

That 2009 Selection Sunday brought nothing but frowns and downs
to SDSU. That team never escaped its NCAA bubble, left outside the
65-field with their nose pressed against the tournament glass
aching to be included.

"Last year was an all-time low and this year is an all-time
high,'' guard D.J. Gay said.

That '09 Aztecs' team had the best RPI of any squad not making
the NCAA tournament -- good luck hanging that banner of distinction
in your gymnasium.

While the Aztecs made a thrilling run to the NIT semifinals,
their disappointment was never eclipsed.

That's why this season SDSU was determined to trade the NIT for
an MWC title net. They longed swapping being bummed with the plum
which goes with being among the 65-team extravaganza.

The Aztecs' fifth straight 20-win season -- something they had
never done -- took care of that.

"Last year we felt bad because we didn't make the NCAA
tournament,'' forward Billy White said.

But then-seniors Lorrenzo Wade, Richie Williams and Kyle Spain
made a prediction.

"They said before they left that next year you guys will get
in,'' White said.

The Aztecs' sensational trek through the MWC tournament, capped
by defeating UNLV in Saturday's final -- removed the gray area.
SDSU earned an automatic berth and that made for a happy Selection
Sunday.

While Sunday's event was closed to the public, those meaningful
to the Aztecs' program where in attendance. That included former
players Tony Bland and Trimaine Davis. Both represent other SDSU
NCAA tournament teams coached by Fisher; Bland (2002) and Davis
(2006).

They were introduced to a big hand. There were high-fives no
matter which direction one looked. It was a party, and one the
Aztecs were shooting for a year removed from that glum Selection
Sunday.

"Our mission was to make the NCAA tournament and our goal was to
make it on our own and not make it as an at-large team,'' Fisher
said. "Now we want to get ourselves that first NCAA tournament win
and not stop with one.''